BY DENNIS GADIL
THE chief of the Presidential Security Group
yesterday said M/Sgt. Bong Fantillanan, one of four PSG men
present at the Terminal 1 last Feb. 5 an hour before the arrival
of ZTE star witness Rodolfo Lozada Jr., is in their roster.
But Brig. Gen. Romeo Prestoza said
Fantillanan had the "mandate" to be at the Terminal 1 as the PSG
contingent was anticipating the arrival of Jose Miguel Arroyo
the following day.
He said the PSG men were not there for Lozada
nor were they involved in the alleged attempt to prevent him
from testifying in the Senate.
He said the name of the PSG was being dragged
into the controversy because of its link to Malacañang.
An airport official said Fantillanan has
regular access to the NAIA.
The official said Fantillanan's name did not
show up in the list of the Pass Control Section because he holds
a seasonal pass, which is good for six months to one year.
Senators conducting a "walk through" Thursday
at Terminal 1 came upon an airport security logbook which showed
a contingent of PSG men was at the airport at around 3:30 p.m.
The security logbook at the Dignitaries
Lounge basement also showed that a PSG team on board a gray
Toyota Corolla Altis (ZCJ 556) entered the VIP area.
The logbook entry said the PSG men were
"going upstairs" to the Dignitaries Lounge.
Two more vehicles, a Ford Everest (WAA 525)
carrying Brig. Gen. (ret.) Angel Atutubo, NAIA security chief,
and a Nissan QRV (ZLJ 839), arrived later at the same VIP area
at around 4:23 p.m.
Airport sources said at least two PSG
officers were at the Dignitaries Lounge with retired army
sergeant Rodolfo Valeroso and Atutubo minutes before Lozada's
arrival.
Fantillanan was said to be the walking behind
Lozada as shown on official airport video footage
The senators did not buy the initial
explanation of airport officials led by Alfonso Cusi, general
manager of the Manila International Airport Authority, that PSG
personnel are a regular fixture at the NAIA airport, especially
when foreign dignitaries are arriving.
The Senate investigation on Lozada's
abduction resumes Monday with summonses issued to Police
Security and Protection Office (PSPO) head Chief Supt. Romeo
Hilomen and six PSPO personnel.
The PSPO personnel are SPO2 Nelson Malto,
SPO3 Lou Ochea, SPO1 Jose Batutoc, PO2 William Quililan, SPO2
Glicerio Gallinera and SPO2 Jaime Halog.
The PSPO personnel were with Col. Paul
Mascariñas, also from the PSPO, when they allegedly abducted
Lozada.
Also invited were Chief Supt. Atilano Morada,
head of the Aviation Security Group, and La Salle Bro. Felipe
Belleya.
Belleya, a friend of Lozada, gave him and his
family shelter at the La Salle Greenhills Dormitory in San Juan.
Lozada and his sister, Carmen, were also
summoned.
Prestoza was not summoned.
Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said it would
be up to the immediate superiors of the PSG if they would allow
any of its members to testify in the Senate.
The PSG is under the Armed Forces of the
Philippines.
AFP chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon said he
will wait for the Senate invitation before deciding whether he
would allow the PSG men to attend the hearing.
OSG: NO ABDUCTION
Solicitor General Agnes Deva-nadera and 17
other lawyers made an ocular inspection of the route taken by
Lozada and his escorts at the NAIA Terminal 1 and concluded
there was no abduction.
"As viewed in the video footage, Lozada was
seen walking freely and even using his cellular phone, while his
alleged abductor, Valeroso was seen lagging behind carrying his
hand carried luggage," she said.
"Sana man lang ay nangurot siya o kumalabit
sa mga taong nandoon, but based on what I saw walang puwersahan
na nangyari," she said.
FILE CASE IN COURT
Razon appealed to Lozada to file abduction
charges in court.
Razon insisted the PNP only acted on
Environment Secretary Lito Atienza's request to secure Lozada.
He said the abduction issue has had an
adverse reaction on his family.
But despite this, Razon said he felt vindicated after
testifying at the Senate last Monday. - With Jocelyn
Montemayor, Victor Reyes Jay Chua and Raymond Africa
